Super Animal Royale

Super Animal Royale is a free-to-play battle royale video game developed by Pixile Studios and published by Modus Games.

Super Animal Royale initially entered early access on Steam on December 12, 2018, for Windows and macOS. It became free-to-play in November 2020, and left early access on August 26, 2021, coinciding with its release on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X and Nintendo Switch.

Gameplay

Super Animal Royale is a 2D, top-down, third-person battle royale shooter where up to 64 players compete to be the last person standing using a variety of weapons. Players create a character from one of several anthropomorphic "Super Animals", including different breeds and colors of various species, which are unlocked by collecting animal DNA awarded after each match. Experience points are granted based on the player's performance at the end of each game, which allows them to level up and gain access to new potential species. Cosmetic items can also be obtained that can be used to customize an animal's appearance such as shirts, hats, mustaches, and glasses.

After joining a lobby, players mingle in a non-combat area until the match begins, with non-player bots joining the queue if less than 64 human players are present a few seconds before the start of the game. Each combatant parachutes from a giant eagle into "Super Animal World"—an island battlefield containing weapons, armor, and power-ups to assist players in fighting and survival. Initially wielding only a melee weapon, players can find guns, grenades and ammunition used to defeat other players. Hamster balls and emus can be piloted for protection as well as attacking opponents. "Super skunk gas" will creep in from the outer edges of the map as the match progresses, forcing players into progressively smaller areas until the end of the game.

Each game can be joined solo, as a duo, or as a squad of up to four players.

Alternate game modes

Super Animal Royale features alternative game modes that are rotated in and out of availability.

S.A.W. vs Rebellion (SvR)

Connecting to the game's storyline, two teams of 24 players fight for territorial control of Super Animal World. Unlike other game modes, SvR utilises a class-based system that spawns players with weapons and equipment, instead of having players locate them manually.

The Bwoking Dead

36 players must survive and avoid being infected by four zombie chickens before they are able to escape the island.

Mystery Mode

A variant of the default game mode. Each round a random modification is applied, typically affecting the weapons available or their statistics.

Plot

Super Animal Royale's story is principally told through periodic tie-in videos released via Pixile's YouTube channel, particularly Super Animal Royale Tonight (also called SAR Tonight or SART), a SportsCenter-styled broadcast showcasing gameplay highlights, fan art and a "behind the scenes" view of events in Super Animal World.

Super Animal World was formerly a theme park centered around the eponymous "Super Animals", animals genetically modified by humans using CRISPR to be bipedal, have human-level intelligence, and be capable of speech. The Super Animals were forced to perform for humans until a group of Super Animals—referred to as the "Super Animal Super Resistance"—rebelled against their creators and killed the park's human guests and staff.

Consequentially, Super Animal World was repurposed into a battle royale arena, where Super Animals are encouraged to fight each other as a spectator sport for humans. The Super Resistance does not participate in the battles, instead waging their own campaign against the enforcers of the royale, S.A.W. security (as seen in the S.A.W. vs. Rebellion game mode).

Super Animal Royale Tonight hosts Donk Patrick (left) and Howl Michaels (right).

The skirmishes are commentated on by Super Animal Royale Tonight hosts Donk Patrick (a donkey), Howl Michaels (a howler monkey) and field reporter Joe Cluck (a chicken). Super Animals appear to have taken over many of the island's administrative functions in the absence of humans, such as Doctor Jennifer Dogna (a Labrador Retriever dog), who has assumed the role of Super Animal World's lead scientist and is responsible for creating new Super Animals; weapons inventor, Thomas Sleddison (a husky); and several construction beavers, who rebuild and reset the island between each battle.

Some time following the royale's establishment, the Super Resistance attack the SAR Tonight studio, capturing Donk and Howl and forcing them to make a program critical of the royale before the pair are rescued by S.A.W. security. They're forced to flee when the studio is attacked by rebels again on Howloween and their security team killed by a explosive planted by Catfive, the studio's custodian and Super Resistance spy. Donk and Howl escape with Thomas Sleddison and hide out at his weapons workshop, before eventually being returned by the giant eagle, Jimmy Talon, some time later. Shortly afterwards, Joe Cluck is kidnapped and held for ransom by The Finch, the leader of the rebellion. In captivity, Joe sparks a friendship with Peep, a young chick who is part of the rebellion. The ransom is eventually paid but The Finch refuses to release Joe.

Six months later, Joe and Peep are watching SAR Tonight and Joe is confused to learn that he's been replaced by a different chicken also named Joe Cluck, with Donk and Howl acting as though nothing has changed. He notices S.A.W. security preparing to storm the rebel base but fails to warn a distracted Peep and a bloody battle breaks out. Joe hesitates when a soldier comes to rescue him, instead choosing to stay with Peep, but both of them are left behind when The Finch abandons the base. Meanwhile, Dr. Dogna reveals she has recreated the Mini Animals: miniature, domesticated versions of Super Animals that hadn't been seen since before the initial rebellion. The Mini Animals overwhelm her lab and escape out across the island. Joe and Peep, who have been roaming the island alone all day, manage to narrowly avoid being trampled by the stampeding Mini Animals. Peep then finds the replacement Joe Cluck hiding in long grass.

With neither Joe showing up for the next episode of SAR Tonight, Howl Michaels goes to Dr. Dogna and pressures her into creating another clone of Joe. She is initially successful, however, the clone rapidly exhibits zombie-like behavior, infecting one of Dogna's lab technicians and escaping to infect others across the island (as seen in the Bwoking Dead game mode). Peep, the original Joe, and replacement Joe hide from the growing hoard in a tent. Dogna eventually manages to contain the infection.

The next day, while the beavers are redecorating the island in preparation for CRISPRmas, Peep leaves the tent and knocks out Bernie, one of the beavers—accidentally killing them in the process—and infiltrates a workshop where melee weapons are being assembled. Another beaver, Buck, finds Bernie's grave marker and, infuriated, threatens to go on strike unless Thomas Sleddison provides them with guns. Thomas relents, giving Buck a minigun just in time for the start of a new battle royale. As everyone evacuates the island, Peep rushes back to the Joes and gets them to safety, but Buck is left behind and forced to participate in the royale himself, being quickly killed.

Super Animal Royale and furry

Super Animal Royale has become popular with furries, particularly streamers and content creators. Furries frequently appear in SAR Tonight's clip compilations and fan art showcases.

Lyze, one of the game's development staff, is a furry and has a skin available in the game that resembles his owl fursona. Brown Wolfie and Camer the Dragon both serve as in-game moderators.

A few Super Content Creators—community ambassadors who are selected by Pixile—are furries, and have had aspects of their fursonas incorporated into the game. The Revolting Vulpine, a furry Twitch.tv streamer, has a skin resembling his fursona available in the game and has made a cameo appearance in SAR Tonight's plot. BuffPup had Pomeranian dogs added to match her fursona.

External links

• Official website
• Official Super Animal Royale wiki